Dara’a: Syrian Army closes in on Al-Sultaniyah; Head Al-Nusra commander killed

The Jordanian leader of the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda “Jabhat Al-Nusra” (Al-Nusra Front) in the Dara’a Governorate “Abu ‘Umar Al-Mukhtar” has been reportedly killed by the Syrian Arab Army’s 7th Mechanized Division at the town of Kafr Shamis on Thursday morning.

Al-Mukhtar’s death coincides with the recent escalation of violence in southern Syria; this is due to the SAA and Hezbollah conducting a large-scale offensive in the provinces of Dara’a, Al-Quneitra, and Sweida.

Perhaps the biggest news for the SAA and Hezbollah was the 9th Armored Division’s breakthrough at the town of Al-Sultaniyah, where they were able to take control of a large amount of territory from the possession of Jabhat Al-Nusra and the Free Syrian Army’s 1st Brigade.

The SAA’s 7th and 9th Divisions – in cooperation with Hezbollah and the National Defense Forces (NDF) – continued their operations in the towns of Tal Al-‘Antar, Simleen, Zimreen, Kafr Shamis, and Kafr Nissaj; however, there was no map change as a result of the intense firefights.

In the Dara’a countryside, Jabhat Al-Nusra attacked a checkpoint belonging to the SAA’s 5th Armored Division on Al-Nahtat-Al-Hirak Road; but they achieved no progress due to the fierce resistance of the soldiers entrenched at the checkpoint. According to a military source, three 5th Division soldiers and 6 Jabhat Al-Nusra fighters were killed during the skirmish.

The militants of Jabhat Al-Nusra and the FSA would also assault the 5th Division at the towns of Dilli, Al-Jeeza, and Inkhil – there was no map change as a result of these attacks.